THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday filed a second batch of criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against five cargo forwarding firms allegedly involved in fraudulent balikbayan box operations linked to more than 3,000 abandoned shipments discovered in ports across the country.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led the filing of complaints against Ikthus Trading Corp., Marcelo D. Laylo Cargo Forwarders, Me Amoree International Consumer Goods Trading, MT De Guzman Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading, and Cargoflex Haulers Corp. for alleged violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other applicable laws.
The cases involve 3,176 abandoned balikbayan boxes uncovered at various ports nationwide, prompting a wider investigation into suspected smuggling activities and other customs violations.
According to the BOC, investigators found indications of fraudulent misdeclaration and undervaluation of goods, unauthorized deconsolidation activities, outright smuggling, non-declaration of commercial items, importation of prohibited and regulated products, and possible violations of intellectual property rights laws.
The agency said the abandoned cargoes raised concerns over irregular importation practices and non-compliance with required shipping and documentation procedures.
The filing marks the second batch of cases initiated by the BOC as part of its campaign against fraudulent cargo forwarding operations. On May 29, the bureau filed its first criminal complaint against Makati Express Cargo Inc.
Nepomuceno said the bureau would continue pursuing cargo operators found to have engaged in deceptive and unlawful practices.
“We will not stop investigating, building cases, and filing appropriate complaints against cargo operators involved in deception and other fraudulent activities that harm our OFWs and their families,” he said.
The customs chief also warned that additional complaints may be filed, especially since several other cargo forwarding firms remain under investigation.
The BOC said ongoing case buildup and intelligence efforts could lead to further charges, depending on the results of the probes undertaken to protect overseas Filipino workers and ensure compliance with customs regulations.
